P#27: An Artful Shot of the Death Valley Sand Dunes
This photograph of the Death Valley sand dunes proves to be quite a lesson in design
At first glance you might not realize this photograph is of the Death Valley sand dunes. That's because Brenda Tharp didn't set out to capture the dunes themselves, but rather the elements of design they contain. Here she explains the concept behind the photo.
Capturing Design
Brenda Tharp: This picture of the Death Valley sand dunes was all about design for me. We talked about lines, patterns, and textures and in this image I had so many to pick from. It's my big thing. I love design. (click the image for a larger version)
This picture has it all except the color, which is not a design element anyway. In fact, in black and white you really see the texture and you see the pattern in the ridges, the shadows in the dunes, and you see these shapes that form lines so there's a lot of movement to this picture because of those lines.
Then there's the repetition of pattern and the textural effect that's created from the light and shadow play in this. I was so excited because it just all fell into place and nature did it for me. It wasn't like I went out there and took a rake to make the sand dune pattern. It was just there and I had to be there to see it and celebrate it through creating a picture.
In Closing
Sometimes a photograph isn't just about capturing a subject. Sometime it's about capturing the elements of design and creating a work of art. That's exactly what was behind this intriguing picture of the Death Valley sand dunes taken by Brenda Tharp.
« P#27: A Macro Photo of Dew Drops on a Red Rose Petal | Home | P#27: A Striking Monument Valley Photo »
